Katherine HV Undergrounding

Services

Electrical & Lightening / Project Management

Industries

Government & Infrastructure / Utilities & Energy Infrastructure

Client

NT Government – Department of Infrastructure, Planning and Logistics (DIPL) 

Location

Victoria Highway road reserve, Katherine, NT

Scope

Design and installation of four 30m lighting towers with floodlights, distribution board, and underground reticulation 

Timeline

2021 (contract start-up and delivery) 

Project Overview

MEC NT delivered the supply, delivery, installation and commissioning of underground power infrastructure along the Victoria Highway road reserve in Katherine, NT. The works were undertaken approximately 500 m south of the Bicentennial Road intersection and managed in accordance with DIPL requirements and Power and Water Corporation (PWC) specifications.

Challenge

Undergrounding existing HV assets in a live corridor required careful coordination with PWC for overhead works and pole butt removals, comprehensive traffic management on the Victoria Highway, and rigorous planning to work safely around existing underground services identified through Dial Before You Dig (DBYD). Schedule pressures and regional resourcing constraints necessitated formal change orders and extensions to align with PWC availability.

Solution

Design & Compliance: Delivered to PWC specifications (NP001.2 Underground Reticulation; NP001.3 Overhead Reticulation) and contract drawings; developed Project, Quality, Environmental and Traffic Management Plans. 

Execution: Implemented SWMS for electrical installations, mobile plant, isolation/lockout-tag, and working near underground assets; conducted start-up meetings and maintained structured communications with DIPL and PWC. 

Coordination: Worked with PWC to sequence overhead changeover and site activities; lodged and tracked variations and change orders to manage programme impacts.

Results

The corridor section was converted to underground HV infrastructure with commissioning completed and documentation packaged for handover. Risks to the public and road users were reduced through approved traffic management and removal of overhead hazards. The undergrounding improves network resilience and aesthetics along the Victoria Highway.